DAWN Commission has concluded a 2-day meeting it facilitated on agriculture funding in the Southwest, between the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the six states in the region and major private sector stakeholders.
Day one of the agriculture funding meeting saw participation from the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) delegation, led by its Executive Secretary Mohammed Abu Ibrahim, the DAWN Commission team, led by the Director-General, Seye Oyeleye, the six ministries of agriculture in the region, Odu’a Investments Company Limited (OICL) and others.
Delegations from the states were led by the commissioners for agriculture in Ekiti, Ogun, and Osun, Hon. Boluwade Ebenezer, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, and Hon. Tola Faseru, respectively; as well as representatives of the Lagos, Ondo and Oyo States ministries of agriculture, Audu Emmanuel, Ogunmola Edwards and Olufunke Adeniran respectively.
Day two of the event moved to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) where further partnership opportunities were explored with the deputy Director-General, Dr. Kenton Dashiell and Mr Wole Oladokun, head of administration and cooperate governance of the IITA Business Incubation Platform.
Mr. Ibrahim told the meeting NADF is focusing on improving agricultural output, import substitution, and employment generation in alignment with Mr. President’s agenda and the mission of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to transform Nigeria into an agricultural economy.”
On the outcome of the meeting, Mr. Ibrahim, said “it is very gratifying that through DAWN Commission, we have the six states of the southwest articulate their different positions. I don’t know if I have seen this model elsewhere. I noticed the well-articulated agricultural policies of the states which shows purposeful leadership. We expect to proceed into working groups to see how we can now deliver our mandate.”
Dr. Oyeleye, in his opening remarks, said the organisation is “the best platform to meet the six states of the region” and assured all stakeholders of “our readiness to ensure best practices is adopted.”
Each state made statistical presentations on past and current agricultural initiatives and outlined future plans to make a compelling case for funding support from NADF.
Lagos State’s priority includes: establishment of agro-produce hubs and improving value chains in rice, coconut, red meat, poultry, fishery and piggery.
Ekiti made the case for cocoa, oil palm, rice, poultry, and small ruminants as priority value chains, upgrading of farmstead infrastructure, processing and storage facilities, mechanisation support services, and land use map.
Ogun State spoke of its comparative advantage in the region for production of cassava, poultry, and the cargo airport and need funding to increase their output.
Ondo State wanted funding support for land development, climate smart agriculture, seedling development, forest regeneration and development of priority value chains.
Osun State sought funding support for rural road rehabilitation, upgrading of farm settlement and establishment of new ones, climate smart initiatives, high-yield seedlings, and capacity building within priority value chain.
Oyo sought funding to support ongoing initiatives by the state government on mechanised farming, viable seed production, climate smart agriculture, processing and storage facilities, and farm service centres.